Chapter 5
At the end of Odalys’s life back then, depression had consumed her like a monster in the dark, robbing her of sleep and hope,
Now, as she gripped her phone, her fingers clenched so tightly it felt like the device might shatter, her mind was a storm of thoughts.
“It’s just one damni month as a stand–in bride! Nobody’s asking you to lay down your life for her! Why the hell did you have to go that far? because she’s adopted and got in your way?” Finnlan’s voice was sharp, his frustration slicing though the air, completely shattering his usual calm and collected facade
“I already told you —
—once you stand in and get this done, and he’s gone, I’ll be your boyfriend. What the hell else do you want?” he snapped, his teeth practically grinding together.
“P” A derisive laugh escaped her lips.
His words were
were so ridiculous it was almost entertaining, like watching a poorly scripted drama. She couldn’t help but wonder how she’d ever fallen for his second–rate charm and manipulative games in the past.
“What the hell are you laughing at? Finnian barked, clearly pissed.
Odalys didn’t answer right away. She stood slowly, walking to the window. Her gaze swept over potted plant by the sill
over the
manicured garden below, fingers brushing a
Her tone, when she finally spoke, was cold enough to freeze. “Who do you think you are? What makes you think I stood in for this marriage because of you? Where do you even get the balls to believe that? You’re harassing me right now. Got it?”
“And let me quess,” she continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You thought, after my husband dies, I’d crawl back to your What kind of delusional world are you living int Newsflashi I’m the Stewart family’s young madam now
“You! You’re just a nobody. Or wait, let me guess—you’re hoping I’ll inherit some of my husband’s wealth after he’s gone, and then you can swoop in and mooch off me? Honestly. I have to admire the audacity.”
“You’re so full of shit,” Finnian shot back, his voice shaking with barely contained rage. “Do you really think I’m that shallow? Odalys, you’re out of line. If you keep spewing this garbage, we’re done. No ties. Nothing”
She smirked, her tone mockingly sweet “Done? Oh, thank God. Do me a favor and stop calling. Co play white knight for Sophia. Maybe she’ll even agree to marry you. You’re such a pathetic simp”
cryman
She couldn’t help but laugh at the thought. Sophia, with her sickly sweet innocent act, probably wanted to please every man on earth–but a guy like Finndant Not a chance
To famibes like the Stewarts, celebrities like him were nothing more than entertainment, disposable and forgettable.
For a moment, Finnian was silent, clearly stunned by her words. When he finally spoke, his voice was trembling. “Odalys, I’ll give you one last
chance
“Don’t bother.” Her tone was icy. “Even if you were gift–wrapped and delivered to my door, I wouldn’t take you. Keep harassing me, and I’ll spill all your dirty little secrets for the world to see Without waiting for his response, she ended the call with a sharp click
She glanced at her phone, checking the recording she’d started at the beginning of the call. Satisfied, she quickly uploaded it to the cloud and backed it up to her email.
“Hah” A bitter laugh escaped her as she rubbed her temples.
Thinking about how naive and weak she had been before, manipulated by people she should’ve seen through, made her blood boil,
The sound snapped her out of her thoughts. Taking a breath, she composed herself and walked to the door.
Standing there was Percival Fresh from a shower, he’d traded his earlier bloodied look for casual black loungewear, the fabric fating him in all the right places.
The faint scent of mint lingered around him, masking the memory of blood and pain.
Percival towered over her, his eyes scanning her face with quiet intensity. For a moment, Odalys blinked, surprised to see him there.
Then, tilting her chin up slightly, she met his gaze head–on. “Percival? Do you need something”
Her voice was calm, her posture steady. She wasn’t intimidated by his presence–if anything.
- she seemned almost bored.
Chapter 3
Percivals 1
slips curved into the faintest of smirks. Most people stammered, bowed, or outright avoided his gaze. But she stared right back. unapologetic and unafraid.
“You took one look at me and knew I was poisoned. How?” His voice was low, gravelly, and unyielding. “And how did you know how to suppress it?”
Odalys nacked her hands behind her back, studying him as she replied. The directness of his question told her he’d already tested the medicine she’d prepareil–and probably had someone analyze it, too.
“Thats simple” she said with a light smile. Tve studied traditional medicine. Her tone was breezy, almost playful, as she stepped aside and motioned for him to come in
Percival hesitated for a moment, his tall frame casting a long shadow into the room. Then, without a word, he stepped inside, his movements slow and deliberate. His presence seemed to fill the space, the air around him thick with an understated but magnetic energy
Odalys stood there, calm as ever, her every move deliberate, With an almost lazy grace, she tied her long hair back, her tone steady but unged with quiet confidence.
“My mentor’s one of the best in holistic medicine and alternative therapies,” she said, her tone rastral. “A legit mentor of metaphysics and traditional medicine. Ive been learning from him since I was three–seventeen years in total”
She didn’t wait for his response before continung, her voice dropping just slightly. “You reek of blood. Even if your blood vessels haven’t burst yet, it’s written all over you. I can sense it through your skin. And your blood! It’s got an odd, unnatural smell. That’s how I knew you were poisoned.”
There was no hesitation, no need to hide anything. She spoke about her Toist roots like it was her badge of honor, not something to downplay.
Percival’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, a small crack in his usual impassive mask. Seventeen years? That was mexpected.
“You can treat it?” he asked, turning to fully face her. His sharp gaze locked onto hers, unblinking, demanding answers
Her eyes met his head–on calm and unwavering. There was a depth to them, like looking into still water that somehow felt bottomless. No fear, no besitation–ust that same unshakable compostire.
“Treat !!” She repeated, her lips curling into a faint smile. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. What I can do is suppress it for now. I can buy you another month maybe six
The casual way she said it made his brow furrow. The best doctors in the world couldn’t even promise him another week.
Yet here she was, tossing out timelines like it was nothing. If he hadn’t seen her suppress the poison earlier with his own eyes, he would’ve walked out right then
But he had seen it.
Her words landed hard, like the first breath of fresh air after being suffocated. For someone who had already made peace with death, her calm certainty hit him in a way he hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t hope–not yet. But it was close.
His hands curled into fists at his sides, the tension so strong his knuckles turned white, But his face stayed calm, his body radiating that same powerful aura that made people think twice before challenging him. If there was any crack in his armor, it wasn’t visible–not yet.
“What’s your price?” he asked, his voice low and steady, cutting straight to the point.
Odalys leaned back, her tall frame resting casually against the edge of a nearby table. She crossed her arms, her sharp gaze never leaving his as she tited her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips
“For now? Let’s just say you owe me a favor,” she said, her voice light bur laced with something unspoken. “Bot 17l need something specific. Herbs. Old one. At least a hundred years old. The older, the better.”
She turned and walked to her bag, pulling out a small notebook and pen. Siming down, she began to write quickly, the pen moving with an almost effortless precision. Once done. she tore the page out and handed is to him
Percival took it, glancing down at the paper. Her handwriting was bold and precise, every stroke sharp and deliberate. It wasn’t just neat—it þad a kind of energy, a power that made it stand out
“Fine” he said, his voice slightly hoarse but firm. His grip on the paper tightened, the list feeling heavier than it should have.
She was more than he’d expected. The ease with which she’d rattled off the list, her calm certainty–it all pointed to a level of knowledge far beyond what he had anticipated.
Whether she was the real deal or just an exceptionally good luar, he’d find out soon enough. All he had to do was venly the herbs on her list.
